Iraq: $20 million and 60 kilograms of gold recovered in the "Oil Agent" case - Sarmad

Iraq’s Central Court of Corruption judge, Diaa Jafar, announced on Sunday the seizure of $20 million and the recovery of 60 kilograms of gold in the case involving the Deputy Minister of Oil.

In a statement published by Iraq’s Higher Judicial Council, Jafar said that “in coordination with the Kurdistan Region, $20.34 million and 200 million Iraqi dinars (approximately $153,000) were seized, along with 60 kilograms of gold and seven vehicles, in the case of the detained Deputy Minister of Oil, Adnan Al-Jamili, and other parties implicated in the case.”

He added that follow-up and investigative measures to seize financial proceeds resulting from wastefulness in projects implemented by the accused and those involved in the case led to the seizure of the aforementioned funds, gold jewelry, and vehicles.

Iraqi authorities also announced the seizure of approximately 9 billion Iraqi dinars (around $7 million) and seven gold bars and jewelry items at the residence of Khalid Ghazay Atiya, the Deputy Minister of Electricity, against whom an arrest warrant had previously been issued.

Jafar confirmed that investigations continue and that other implicated individuals are being pursued to complete legal procedures against them.

For several months, Iraq has been conducting an intensive anti-corruption campaign, under which senior government officials have been referred to trial.